Wolfgang8810

i jsut got some bio spira that will treat 90 gallons for 16 bucks lol i put enough in for 50 gallons i really hope im one of the lucky ones and it works

Wolfgang8810

i have a 50 gallon tank i want wasting

voiceless_kat

I have used Bio Spira for 4 small tanks, and will use it when I set up the 55g next week ( hoping). I have always had good luck and immediate cycling, never lost a fish.

In fact in a filter changing flurry the other day, I lost my cycle in the 10g, so added some Bio Spira this morning, to get back on track. I find it is one less headache to worry about - cycling - when you have multiple tanks.

Good luck with it. Keep us posted. I swear by the stuff nopw!! Val

Wolfgang8810

sweet im hoping for the best my LFS gets more german blue rams in on thursday woo hoo. my sticking plan is 6 flase juli corys, 3 german blue rams and 2 or 3 gouramis. maybe an angel i dunno. i really like that glodanios oh well well see eventually

Kevin

i just got a false julii from petsmart for 2 bucks...they look really good and love to swim up and down the sides of my tank...good luck w/ your new tank...i would recommend some pearl gouramis, or sparkling gouramis...they add nice color to the tank

neverendingninja

Not to burst bubbles or anything, but I'm not sure how compatible gouramis and blue rams are. They may get along just fine, but I've heard gouramis can be pretty bull-headed, and they get a little bigger than the GBRs. Just make sure you look into it, thats all.

Good luck, though! Make sure we get some pictures.

Wolfgang8810

thanks neverending ninja, the rams and the gouramis im looking at get the same size and the pearls are more peaceful than its more aggressive cousins the three spot, kissing, and moonlight gouramis.

Kevin

yeah...my pearls wouldnt harm anything else...they even eat from my hand...and now my male is building a bubblenest, so i think i might get some babies soon

Wolfgang8810

ok i added the bip spira 24 hours ago and here are my readings so far



ammonia nitrite nitrate pH 8-Sep 0 0 0 6.8 16-Sep 0.5 0 5 6.8 19-Sep 1 0 5 7 23-Sep 1 0.25 5 7
i added the bio spira on the 22nd should i add more?

Wolfgang8810

ammonia nitrite nitrate ph 8-Sep 0 0 0 6.8 16-Sep 0.5 0 5 6.8 19-Sep 1 0 5 7 23-Sep 1 0.25 5 7

COBettaCouple

I've not had a chance to use it, but i've read that the readings can do spikes the first 7 days after adding biospira.. at least in the ammonia.
but that it's still safe to add fish.

Wolfgang8810

so afer you add it the ammonia goes up?

COBettaCouple

yea, that's what i've heard but that it's safe to add fish. i'm sure as soon as some members who've used it read this they can explain it better, but i think your tank is right on.

Wolfgang8810

im glad. sorry that the table was all messed up before when i copy pasted from exel it diddnt do that.

voiceless_kat

Wolf....I am not sure how to read your water parameters, however a spike is normal. This is what I learned from Chickadee: and how I cycled all of my tanks with Bio Spira:

-Set up the tank, filter,heater, conditioned water; let sit overnight to get heat up ( this is just my anal thing) I am sure you could do this all on same day as adding BS
-next day,I added Biospira; I went and got my fish, came home, acclimated them and dumped them into the tank
- No water changes for 7 days ( as per instructions for bioSpira) & Rose
-there will be a spike, apparently the fish can deal with it - I freaked out the first time I used it and saw this, and did a small water change,. Lucky for me, I did not lose my cycle.

-7th day do a 25% water change
-I always tested then, and everything was good, nitrates at 5, where, mine have always remained in all of my tanks. You may still be showing a trace of ammonia, but not to worry
-I have not lost a fish ( corries & bettas & guppies) to this method of cycling, but must admit my heart raced when I would see a spike

Here is copy & pasted email I had from Marineland when I asked for help:

From: US Marineland Consumer
Date: 8/15/2007 7:44:08 AM
To: Val
Subject: RE: Bio Spira


[IMG]file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Val/Local%20Settings/Application%20Data/IM/Runtime/Message/%7B2940DC56-5E75-430D-A895-3C2EFF1B3A26%7D/Show/image0011.jpg[/IMG]
Hi and thanks for the inquiry! I have used Bio-spira on 1 saltwater and 3 freshwater tanks myself recently, also with excellent results. We do not provide an expiry date on these. I have been told that is because since it is a live product the lifespan can be somewhat variable. Also since it is refrigerated, thus putting the bacteria in a suspended metabolic state I have been told, again it can be nearly impossible to predict an actual expiry date. That being said. I have been informed that the product should be good for at least 6 months refrigerated and about one week at room temperature. The bacteria can be destroyed by very high temps, above 90F and freezing temps, below 32F. I started a small 3 gallon betta tank using about 1/6 or slightly less of a small pouch. That is probably slightly higher than needed but it worked out very well for me. I introduced a male and 3 females immediately with no ammonia or Nitrite spikes recorded. I hope this helps! Be sure and shake the bag before adding as the bacteria tends to settle.


Tetra Care
United Pet Group, Tetra Office
3001 Commerce St</SPAN>
Blacksburg, VA24060
1 800 526 0650
1 800 433 8914 fax


- I don't think you need to add anymore Bio Spira, but if you did, it won't hurt the fish

Rose suggested I not keep testing so that I would not lose my mind........

I hope this helps, and if you need held or have questions, Marineland techs are really good, answer emails pretty quickly. And don't forget the nitrogen cycle posts here, there is lots of help over there.

Val

Wolfgang8810

TANKS VAL . ive been checking my water everother or 3rd day so ill check again today and let you know how things are its been 3 or 4 days i cant remember lol

Wolfgang8810

its the 6th day and my ammonia has stayed at 1 the whole time and since the 23rd my nitrite has gone from .25 to .50 nitrates staying at 5 PPM i think i will add some more tomorrow

voiceless_kat

Please don't make my mistakes!! ( and I made another one ). I was freaking cuz my water parameters were so high, and did an 8 c water change, so now I have prolonged the cycle. I started on 21st Sept, and today my water was:
Ammon 1.0 ppm
Nitrite 5.0 ppm
Nitrate 10 ppm

I justfreak out, even tho the fish appear to be doing normal fish thingsLOL. Here is the letter I sent this morning to Marineland, and their reply which I just received: ( my email to them is at the bottom)

From: US Marineland Consumer
Date: 9/27/2007 1:44:13 PM
To: Val
Subject: RE: Bio spira Help - Urgent


[IMG]file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Val/Local%20Settings/Application%20Data/IM/Runtime/Message/%7BB15E6ED7-1BDA-44C0-8CDF-0E1FD2E46537%7D/Show/image0011.jpg[/IMG]
Hello,
Ammonia does not become toxic to fish until it hits 2ppm. So you’re still pretty good. You should not have done the water change, as this removes some of the bio-spira you put in. This may be the reason for the larger spike. You really don’t have anything to worry about at this point.
Regards,
Robert Huber
United Pet Group, Aquatics Div.
Senior Consumer Relations Specialist
Robert.Huber@Tetra.net
1-800-526-0650 ext. 6126

From: Val Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 11:38 AM
To: US Marineland Consumer
Subject: Bio spira Help - Urgent


Good Morning;



On Sept 21st I added Bio Spira to a 3g Eclipse tank, filled with water that had been conditioned with NovAqua. I added 2 small guppies at that time.



On the 25th of Sept parameters were:

Ammon .5

Nitrite .25

Nitrate .5



I kind of freaked out, worrying about the spike, so did a small 8 c water change of conditioned water



Yesterday I added 2 more very small guppies ( this is a temp hold only until the end of next week)



This morning parameters were:



Ammon 1.0

Nitrite 5.0

Nitrate 10



The fish are swimming around, ate, nothing out of the ordinary. However, I am concerned that this spike , on day 7, is going to be too much. The pkg says to do part change on day 7, which is actually tomorrow, since it was late on the 21st that I added fish & bio spira.



Please advise as to what course of action I should take. The water is from a well, PH 7.6, has no chlorine.



Will these fish be able to ride this spike out?? Did I screw it up by doing that small water change??



Thanks for you speedy reply.
******************************************





I will post his reply when I get it, so hang on, my friend..........( Now I have to practise what I preach..LOL)


Val

Wolfgang8810

lol my ammonia is still at one and mot nitrite has gone up to 1 so i think my ammonia spike is over

voiceless_kat

I am not sure what that says...but if you feel ok, that is great. Did you add more? I haven't heard back from my second question regarding doing the water change tomorrow.

I love this stuff, but it still freaks me out. With bettas, ya get so paranoid about these spikes, and perhaps ending in the dreaded finrot. LOL My little guppies are hanging in, still doing fish stuff - because I have only had bettas, I am still trying to figure out what "fish stuff" is. All I know is that they are not gulping, swimming upside down; staying at the top; tipped over on the bottom or have swollen bellies- all the stuff that makes betta people nuts! :It is actually kind of fun!

Good luck, I will continue to follow the thread!

Val

Val

Wolfgang8810

i added more and i think i will check my water a little later but i have blue crayfish fry lol.

Attached Images

CIMG2675.JPG (201.2 KB, 13 views)

Wolfgang8810

ammonia is down to .5 nitrite is at 2ppm and nitrate is up to 10 so im almost done

Kevin

could i get one of those?

Wolfgang8810

lol sure im going to be selling the to a pet store

Kevin

where are you? i might be able to take one in december

Wolfgang8810

im in florida. chances are there wont be too many left by then about 10 percent live and i ahve 43 that i know if. some are still hiding in the tank

Kevin

well, keep me posted, i would def. buy one if i can get my new tank set up in time

Wolfgang8810

ok sounds good. arent you building that 60 gallon? marine tank?

voiceless_kat

So here is the reply to my question about water change today, which in the instructions, you are to do on day 7, but I guess I will bravely leave it for a couple of days...Kinda funny: (again, my question is at the bottom)

From: US Marineland Consumer
Date: 9/28/2007 8:06:35 AM
To: Val
Subject: RE: Bio spira Help - Urgent


[IMG]file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Val/Local%20Settings/Application%20Data/IM/Runtime/Message/%7BDDFBAAC8-9B47-40C2-A4BB-FCB2D367D8E7%7D/Show/image0011.jpg[/IMG]
Hello,
Just leave it alone. The water changes will remove bacteria while it is growing and settling. Bio-spira is too expensive to suck out and pour down the drain. J
Regards,
Robert Huber
United Pet Group, Aquatics Div.
Senior Consumer Relations Specialist
Robert.Huber@Tetra.net
1-800-526-0650 ext. 6126

From: Val Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 3:08 PM
To: US Marineland Consumer
Subject: RE: Bio spira Help - Urgent


Thanks for your reply..........should I go ahead with a 25% water change tomorrow, or leave it for a couple of days? ( This fish thing is new to me, I appreciate the help)



Val





Amusing, he recognizes the expense, so I will be brave and not change my water, did you change yours?

Your little crayfish fry are amazing, that many from 1 mom? I am a dummy about these things, are they born live?

Good luck with it all! VAl

Wolfgang8810

they were in eggs that che carried undre her tail for about a month and there anre twice as many as i have ion the picture i just cant catch them all in the tank